Holder



(No Model.)

B. M. STAPLES.

HOLDER.

No. 580,148. 1 Patented Apr. 6, 1897.

UNITED STATES PATENT ()EEICE.

ELIAL M. STAPLES, OF ELIZABETH, NEXV JERSEY.

HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 580,148, dated April 6, 1897.

Application filed September 8,1896.

To aZZ whom it ntcty concern.-

Be it known that I, ELIAL M. STAPLES, of Elizabeth, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented an Improvement in Holders, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

It is the object of my invention to provide an improved holder which will maintain itself in proper general position to be placed around the handle of a fiat-iron, tea-pot, or othervessel which is to be lifted from the fire, said holder being mainly composed of non-heatconducting material and being also provided with pockets or guards to inclose the fingers and thumb of the hand, in order to more effectu ally prevent them from being burned by the heat or by contact with the hot handle.

The details of construction and further advantages of my invention will appear in the course of the following description thereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing my improved holder in use. Fig. 2 is a top plan View thereof; and Fig. 3 is a central transverse section taken on the line 3 3, Fig. 2.

In constructing my improved holder I superimpose on top of each other a large number of sheets of non-heat-conductin g material, such as paper, and stitch them together bya longitudinal row of stitches a to constitute a body a". The layers of paper are then curved to the desired form and a second row of stitches d is stitched approximately parallel to the first row of stitches and adjacent the other edge of the layers of non-heat-conducting material. More rows of stitches may be provided, if desired. These stitches serve to permanently maintain the layers in the curved form desired for the finished product. A piece of suitable material 6, such as tough cotton or felt, cut to the shape of the holder, is then placed below or within the curved body a of non-heat-cond ucting material,the two being joined together by several rows of stitches 1). Another piece of cotton, felt, or other suitable material 19 to withstand extended use is placed over the body a and other narrow side pieces 0, of felt or other material, are placed at either side, as indicated best in Fig. 3, and the whole is secured or bound together Serial No. 605,076. (No model.)

at the bottom edge d and at either end d. The side pieces are permitted to bulge at the middle portion slightly away from the body, so as to constitute pockets for the protection of the thumb and fingers in grasping the holder. The upper edges of the pocket may be suitably bound, as at e,

In use the holder, by reason of its permanent curved shape, is always ready to be grasped in proper position by the hand, and

by reason of its inclosed non-heat-conducting body portion there is a minimum of heat transmitted to the hand, so that the latter is kept cool, thus avoiding roughness and cracking of the skin by the heat. The fingers and thumb being inclosed within the pockets at either side of the holder cannot possibly come into contact with the hot metal of the flat-iron or other utensil being held, so that all danger of accidental burning is removed.

The body of the holder being composed of a large number of layers stitched together, as indicated, tends to maintain itself in one curved position, so that as soon as the grasp on the handle being carried is released the holder automatically removes itself from close contact with the handle and recovers its original or normal position.

I am aware that it has been proposed to make a holder and shield in curved form having a' coating of plaster-of-paris; and also I am aware that paper has been used in fiat layers as a lining to a holder; but I am not aware that it has ever been proposed to make a holder having a permanent curvature automatically maintained when the grasp of the hand is released.

By stitching together a large number of sheets of paper, as I have above described in my invention, first by one line of stitches in a flat position and then again by other lines of stitches stitching them together in a curved position, not only is the mass of paper held compactly and properly in position, but the curvature of the holder is permanent, no mat ter how much the holder may be pinched together or flattened in its use thereafter.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patcut, is

As an article of manufacture, a holder comprising a body composed of a plurality of layers of paper, stitched together to form a perto contain respectively the thumb and fingers 1o manently-curved body said body automaticof the hand, substantially as described.

ally resuming its normal shape when bent In testimony whereof I have signed my either inwardly or outwardly, a piece of fabric name to this specification in the presence of being stitched to the inner or under side of two subscribing Witnesses.

said body, another piece of fabric inclosing ELIAL M. STAPLES. the body on the upper side thereof and se- Witnesses: cured to said inner piece of fabric at the edges HARRY L. COOK,

thereof,and pockets at the sides of said holder 1 LOUIS E. MCVICKER. 

